[ If Fern had really wanted to make a point of it, she could have tried to scream bloody murder, to cry for help, and it's likely that anyone in the area would have assumed she was the one being mistreated, with this statuesque, imposing creature hoisting her up like a fish on a line.

That would have been a terrible last resort, though; drawing attention to herself is never her first choice.

Her feet hit the ground gently, allowing her to regain her balance, and then silence stretches out between the two of them. Fern shakes out her limbs and heaves out a sigh. ]

Do you remember how you got here? I was on my way somewhere, and then— [ She lifts a hand to the red-stained bandage wrapped around her head and grunts. ] I don't know. I just know I shouldn't be here.

[ And how surreal, that she's now talking to this... thing. ]